Failure to co-operate with Legal Ombudsman costs firm £20K
In the first case of its kind, the High Court has fined a solicitor, £5,000 + £15,500 costs, for failing to co-operate with an investigation by the Legal Ombudsman. Howard Robert Gillespie Young, a solicitor who practised in Bolton, Lancashire, for CMG Law failed to provide documents to enable the Ombudsman to investigate a case. […]
Wow! – what happened there?
In spite of wide spread alarm in the months leading up to the October 2011 renewal it seems that nothing properly prepares us for the surprises thrown up in this most widely commented on of mass market renewals. The inactivity post the Charles Rivers Associates review and report and the ensuing consultation period looked likely […]
Wow! – what happened there?
In spite of wide spread alarm in the months leading up to the October 2011 renewal it seems that nothing properly prepares us for the surprises thrown up in this most widely commented on of mass market renewals. The inactivity post the Charles Rivers Associates review and report and the ensuing consultation period looked likely […]
SLC solution for lender panels
Whilst joint representation remains the norm, all conveyancing businesses remain highly vulnerable to lenders choosing not to instruct them. The removal from a panel for the smallest error or even just because you don’t do enough business is killing conveyancers across the country. Some conveyancers are even seeking to litigate against lenders in respect […]
In-Deed to build a national conveyancing brand by investing in high street law firms
Just one month on from implementation of the Legal Services Act, In-Deed have confirmed that they intend to invest in UK law firms. In-Deed, an online conveyancing system, which was launched earlier this year by the founder of Rightmove, Harry Hill, recently secured £4.5 million investment following flotation on the Alternative Investment Market in June. […]
Help sought for the CML Conveyancing Conference
Dear Colleague CML Conference: a request I am a partner at Wright & Wright in Guildford and also the founding director of JET which is the CML supported system hosting the CML Handbook. My role with JET and the CML has meant that I am delighted to be speaking at the CML Conference on 1 […]
TM Group celebrates 2 years of Official Searches direct
TM Group has launched a new website to celebrate that it is just over two years since TM Group started the TM Official Search Services hub through which, with the help and support of Land Charges departments across the country. We believe that prior to the direct service with Local Autorities TM Group had […]
Jones v Kernott
Judgment in favour of the Appellant in Jones v Kernott was handed down on 9th November. You can read the Judgment here. This case surely highlights the importance of advising your clients on the best way to hold the property at the time of purchasing. A simple Deed of Trust would have considerably reduced the […]
Law Society agrees new governance arrangements with Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have announced that there are new arrangements in place for the governance of their ongoing relationship. Law Society President, John Wotton says: "It’s vital for the profession and the public that the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) cooperate to work effectively and efficiently […]
69 Marina, St Leonards-On-Sea, Freeholders of v Oram & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 1258 (08 November 2011)
Introduction This case will be of real interest to tenants and landlords on the question of costs following a determination by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal as to the amount of service charges payable by the tenants. In effect the dispute was as to two distinct clauses in a lease. Background The property had been converted […]
SDLT Avoidance Schemes challenged by HMRC
Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs is to mount a court challenge to stamp duty tax avoidance schemes set up for home buyers to exploit a loophole in the law. The taxman’s move follows this year’s Budget when the Chancellor announced that he would be clamping down on stamp duty avoidance. HMRC have estimated that the […]
Aon appoints new Client Director for Legal Indemnity Practice
Aon Insurance, the risk management business of Aon Corporation, have announced the appointment of Mark Manwaring as Client Director, responsible for leading Aon’s national legal indemnity practice based in Aon’s UK headquarters in London. Manwaring brings more than 10 years experience in dealing with legal indemnity risks, after starting his career with First Title and […]
Housing market activity rising, slowly but surely?
An increase in activity for the UK housing market during October has seen rising sales levels and an increase in demand, according to the latest RICS UK Housing Market Survey (8th November 2011). October’s rise in sales levels has been attributed by many surveyors to a growing realism from sellers who are now more inclined […]
Connells acquire Independent estate agency Burchell Edwards
Connells estate agency have announced the successful acquisition of Midlands based Burchell Edwards, a 16 branch independent estate agency which incorporates the Ashley Adams branches. The move also sees the conveyancing arm of Burchell Edwards, Be Legal, becoming a subsidiary of Connells own coneyancing service, Conveyancing Direct, although they will continue trading as Be Legal […]
New Site mapping system from Searchflow
SearchFlow today announce their new Site Assembly service which maps all relevant land titles, tenures and property interests in a single view allowing instant and easy visibility of gaps in ownership. Additional data such as environmental information, the position of utilities and aerial photography can be added to build a comprehensive site profile. Searchflow claim […]
HOPP sales jump as it celebrates it first birthday
First Title have celebrated anniversary of the launch of the HOPP claiming that it is now being used regularly by over 200 conveyancing solicitors, with over £150 million worth of property insured to date and a rapidly increasing number of conveyancers buying the policy. Whilst First Title aren’t keen to tell us exactly how many […]
Legal Comparison Websites – the Law Society view.
In advance of the Legal Service Board intention to scrutinise customer review websites the Law Society has conducted its own research into the broader impact of the sale of legal services online particularly via third party marketing organisations. Despite its 52 pages it is a good piece of work and well worth reading if you […]
Shifting sands
We live in interesting times. Change is all around — not only regulatory and competitive change, but developments in property case law and legislation, too. Brian Chrystal gives a personal perspective on uncertainty and its place in legal practice “What do lawyers do? The central thesis … is that business lawyers are engaged in managing […]
O’Neill Patient launch exclusive premier service for Sesame Bankhall Group
The volatile housing market has prompted one of the UK’s leading conveyancing providers to launch a premium conveyancing service. O’Neill Patient launch an exclusive premium service to members of Sesame, Bankhall and PMS to “provide greater certainty in a volatile housing market”. Sesame Bankhall Legal Services launched conveyancing, as the first of a range of […]
Camden Gardens’ story highlights the necessity for environmental searches
Camden New Journal recently brought to light the contamination of private gardens in Camden. Soil samples from 19 gardens were analysed and showed the presence of carcinogenic substances, posing “significant risk” of “significant harm to human health”. This type of news is regularly reported on in the media and demonstrates the importance of an environmental […]
